Network Rail: Carbon Emissions
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100955, if she will provide a breakdown of the programmes Network Rail is undertaking to achieve its Net Zero target; and what the estimated cost to the public purse is of those programmes.
Answered by Keir Mather
Network Rail has set a strategic target to contribute to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045 (Scotland) and 2050 (England and Wales). Although Rail is already one the lowest-carbon methods of travel we are committed to reducing our own carbon emissions and encouraging passengers and freight away from more carbon intensive methods of travel.
To play its part Network Rail is committed to minimise its reliance on fossil fuels and reduce its carbon emissions and it has a large number of projects, programmes and workstreams being delivered - please see Network Rail’s Greener Railway Strategy (https://greener.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Greener-Railway-Strategy_May-2025.pdf) for more information on these.
The costs of achieving net zero are spread across a large number of areas, including dedicated resources, specific projects and programmes, embedded into existing workstreams and more. They are also spread across numerous control periods. As such Network Rail is unable to provide an estimated cost, but all works are planned to be as efficient and cost effective as possible.
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